Arrest warrants out for leaders, crowd staying
POST REPORTERS
The Civil Court last night ordered the People's Alliance For Democracy (PAD) to immediately move out of Government House and its grounds, at the request of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister. Nine PAD leaders also face arrest warrants approved by the Criminal Court on four charges, including treason.
The PM's secretariat yesterday filed a complaint with the Civil Court seeking an urgent hearing of an application for a temporary injunction to disperse the PAD protesters.
National police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan said PAD leaders would be informed immediately of the Civil Court's order.
Police late last night deployed ambulances and vehicles loaded with riot police shields and batons near Government House.
Samran Rodpetch, a key PAD member, announced the court order to the supporters late last night, but urged them to stay put. They did not leave.
Termsak Jarupran, said the PAD respected the order but appealed to the court to allow them to stay inside the compound of Government House to fulfil their mission to topple the government.
The PAD began its siege of Government House on Tuesday, saying it was the ''last whistle blow'' in its effort to unseat Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
In the complaint lodged by Loyluen Bunnag, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, the PM's secretariat asked the Civil Court to order all PAD demonstrators to leave Government House and remove all their belongings.
Even though the PAD claimed the right to protest under Article 63 of the constitution, its occupation of Government House prevented officials and cabinet members from performing their duties, the complaint said.
The PAD rally, which involved raids on several government agencies including the state-run NBT television station, had caused inconvenience to the public at large.
The complaint said the PAD's campaign was seen as an instigation of civil unrest and was therefore a threat to national security.
It said Government House had been earmarked as the venue for an official function ''116 Days: From Mothers' Day to Fathers' Day'' this Saturday.
The Criminal Court yesterday issued warrants for the arrest of nine PAD leaders, who face four serious charges including treason.
Named in the warrants were PAD core members Sondhi Limthongkul, Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Somsak Kosaisuk, Pibhop Dhongchai, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila, and key allies Amorn Amornrattananont, Chaiwat Sinsuwong and Therdphum Jaidee.
They are accused of using violence to incite unrest and to overthrow the government, conspiracy to commit treason, unlawful assembly to cause public disturbance, and of resisting police orders to disperse. Mr Somkiat, a Democrat list-MP, cannot be arrested because he has parliament immunity while the House is in session.
The PAD leaders led tens of thousands of demonstrators to storm Government House on Tuesday in their stepped-up campaign to force Mr Samak out of office.
Following the issuing of the warrants, Mr Samak ordered the authorities to disperse PAD demonstrators from Government House grounds before sunset.
''Before sunset, security forces will be deployed to force the protesters out of Government House. ''It must end today. It cannot continue,'' said Mr Samak, according to government spokesman Wichienchote Sukchoterat.
Authorities would first try to talk the demonstrators into leaving the compound, and that ''drastic measures'' would be taken if state property was damaged.
About 1,000 police were deployed outside the compound of Government House. About 100 were said to have infiltrated the crowd of demonstrators.
However, late last night the PAD protesters were still there and police had taken no forceful action.
Interior Minister Kowit Wattana and police yesterday pleaded with the PAD leaders to turn themselves in and leave Government House voluntarily.
''I'm pleading with you to leave Government House. I do not want to call this an ultimatum. It is a plea,'' said Pol Gen Kowit.
Pol Maj-Gen Suporn Pansua, spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said police tried to encourage the PAD leaders to turn themselves in.
The PAD leaders remained inside Government House after the warrants were issued and challenged police to arrest them there. They vowed not to flee and were surrounded by thousands of supporters on the lawn of Government House. Women and children sat in rows at the gates to prevent police from storming the compound.
Maj-Gen Chamlong said he was ready to be arrested and told the protesters to open the way if the police showed up.
Whether or not the arrest warrants were executed, he wanted the protesters to continue the siege until the Samak government stepped down.
''If we move out of here, it means that we are losing. I believe if we continue protesting here for another three or four days, the government itself will fall.''
| Keeping them at bay |
PAD core leaders Sondhi Limthongkul, right, and Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang chat in front of Government House after warrants for their arrest were issued yesterday. |
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators brave heavy rain late yesterday afternoon as they continue their siege of Government House for a second day. |
A protester worries for the five core leaders who are facing arrest after warrants were issued by the Criminal Court. |
A supporter of the People's Alliance for Democracy shakes a set of hand-clappers in support of the protest leaders. |
Anchalee Paireerak, a popular People's Alliance for Democracy speaker, shows a copy of the Bangkok Post to protesters at Government House yesterday.
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A supporter of the People's Alliance for Democracy hugs a border patrol policeman after handing out roses to officers standing guard at Government House. |
Protestors dry their laundry at parking lots reserved for cabinet members. |
Female protesters queue to use a toilet at Government House. |
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| A PAD headband is wrapped around the head of a stone lion at Government House. |
After 95 days on the streets, rally goers relax under the shade of the Thai Ku Fah and Santi Maitri buildings in the Government House compound. |
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